SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: First Graphene Limited (ASX: FGR) has entered right into a joint development settlement (JDA) with Suvo Strategic Minerals (ASX:SUV) to analysis and develop low-emission cement and concrete products.
The settlement goals to examine the potential for additional enhancements in CO2 emission reductions by combining the already profitable outcomes achieved from the addition of graphene to cement and concrete with Suvo’s metakaolin.
Metakaolin is a pozzolanic supplies derived from fine kaolinite clay that may be utilized as a partial replacement for clinker in cement to ship strength and efficiency enhancements to concrete and mortar products.
Clinker is the important thing binding agent in cement and is a key contributor to the industry’s significant carbon footprint. This is because of the clinker manufacturing process, which involves roasting calcium carbonate supplies at extraordinarily excessive temperatures, with CO2 being a main byproduct. Depending on a vary of factors, for every tonne of cement manufactured, as a lot as 900kg of CO2 can be produced.
While the metakaolin manufacturing course of nonetheless involves calcination, it’s carried out at a lot decrease temperatures with none significant CO2 emissions.
Like graphene, metakaolin has been confirmed to present superior efficiency advantages in cement and concrete applications however it’s susceptible to degradation in some instances together with publicity to excessive temperatures. Research has proven that graphene-enhanced metakaolin can present far superior efficiency under a broader vary of conditions.
By combining the 2 merchandise in a single formulation, synergistic efficiency benefits, such as accelerated OPC hydration, early hardness development and durability, are anticipated at reduced clinker amounts.
The joint development being undertaken between First Graphene and Suvo intends to identify alternatives for commercialisation and scaling up of graphene-enhanced metakaolin options to be used in cement and concrete products.
Under the phrases of the agreement, First Graphene will present R&D services, co-develop a analysis and development plan to produce graphene-enhanced options with Suvo, and ultimately focus on scaling up manufacturing of the ensuing solutions.
Suvo will take responsibility for testing and validation of graphene-enhanced metakaolin merchandise and provision of market data to allow the scale up of production.
The global inexperienced cement market is estimated to be worth U$56 billion by 2027, in accordance to analysis firm IMARC Group.
First Graphene Managing Director and CEO Michael Bell said: “This JDA marks one other step in First Graphene’s pursuit of greener options for the development sector.
Building on the success we have already demonstrated and are actively commercialising by developing PureGRAPH® enhanced admixtures and grinding aids to reduce CO2 emissions and enhance efficiency in cement and concrete, the settlement with Suvo provides a possible path to realising even greater improvements.
The mixture of First Graphene and Suvo’s products, coupled with the strength of our mixed R&D capabilities and engagement with global markets, offers significant potential to develop a lot extra robust options to assist the cement and concrete sectors reduce and ultimately eliminate carbon emissions.”
Suvo Executive Chairman Henk Ludik said: “This is an thrilling alternative for Suvo and First Graphene to develop superior options that are higher for the planet.
Both companies share a common philosophy of investing in R&D that offers the potential for large-scale, profitable commercial outcomes and we go into this JDA with some very clear common goals to address the cement and concrete sectors’ carbon discount objectives.
More than four billion tonnes of cement is manufactured every year – which equates to sufficient to construct a metropolis the size of New York every forty days – so there’s a sizeable market and a big emission discount goal to address.”